Tank commander{40 s seat and foot platform assembly

ABSTRACT

A combined seat and foot platform assembly to be mounted in the turret of a military tank or like vehicle and consisting of a substantially I-beam column secured between the floor and roof of the tank&#39;&#39;s turret. Spring loaded seat and foot platform assemblies are slidable along the column and are quickly adjustable in selected positions release levers which engage notches in the column. The seat and foot platform are quickly released for emergency descent from an open hatch to a combat position in the turret.

ljnited States Patent [72] inventors Nonnie F. Dickinson Aberdeen;

Albert H. Tucker, Baltimore, both of Md. [21] Appl. No. 40,292 2937'692Attorneys-Harry M. Saragovitz. Edward J. Kelly and Herbert o 71 97 9 227 mm d e m 0 cm a PD: n 24 ll.

Berl

[73] Assignee The United States of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army ABSTRACT: A combined seat and foot platformassembly to [54] TANK COMMANDER S SEAT AND FOOT be mounted in the turretof a military tank or like vehicle and consisting of a substantiallyl-beam column secured between PLATFORM ASSEMBLY the floor and root ofthe tanks turret. Spring loaded sent and 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

297/333 foot platform assemblies are slid-able along the column and are297/333 297/345 297/433 297/437 248/383 quickly adjustable in selectedpositions release levers which engage notches in the column. The seatand foot platform are 5] l t Cl lig figg quickly released for emergencydescent from an open hatch to E50; geld 297cm,38 a combat position inthe turret.

PATENTEUBEB nan 3.625563 SHEET 3 0F 3 INVENTORS,

Norm/e F Dickinson. Alberf h. Tue/(er ATTORNEY TANK COMMANDER 'S SEATAND FOOT PLATFORM ASSEMBLY The invention described herein may bemanufactured, used, and licensed by or for the US. Government forgovernmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

In military vehicles such as tanks, etc., it is often necessary that acommander who has been observing through an open hatch to quicklydescend within a turret to assume a combat position. Usually theobserver is in a sitting position and to escape quickly into the turrethe must either fold up a seat or climb down a ladder, if theturret islarge. It is desirable to eliminate lost motion when assuming the combatposition and the invention is directed toward this end. Thus, thepresent invention is designed to overcome lost motion when changing froman open hatch position, i.e., the body of an observer being partlyexposed above the hatch opening of a tank's turret, to a combat positionwithin the turret.

Briefly this invention consists of both seat and foot platformassemblies slidable on a single column which is connected at its ends tothe floor and roof of a tank turret, and which assemblies are adjustablein selected positions along the column and which are quickly released bylevers to permit rapid descent of an observer into the turret from anexposed position. Both the seat and foot platform are spring loaded andalso may be folded out of the way when not in use.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a novelseat and foot platform arrangement for instant descent from an openhatch position to alternate combat positions within a tank turret.

It is another object to provide a seat and foot platform arrangementwherein the seat and foot platform are spring loaded to prevent anundesired high descent velocity.

Still another object is to provide a seat and foot platform arrangementhaving a column along which the seat and foot platform are adjustablyand slidably mounted thereon.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the seat and foot platform assembly of thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the foot platform;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial front view of the column and a stop and showing thecounterbalance springs, and,

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail view of the buffer for the foot platform.

THE COLUMN Referring now to the drawings. FIG. 1, reference character 1indicates generally the combined column, seat and foot platformassemblies. The column, per se, is indicated generally by 33 and issubstantially of I-beam construction, having end plates 2 and 3connected by a median strip 4, best seen in FIG. 4. Column 33 is securedat its upper end to turret top 5 by a racket 6 and at its lower end tothe turret floor 7 by a bracket 8 as seen in FIG. 1. Notches 9 are cutin one side of median strip 4 along the travel of the seat assembly andin the face of end plate 3 along the travel of the foot platform asindicated by 10, see FIG. 7.

SEAT ASSEMBLY The seat assembly is indicated generally by 11 andconsists of a support 12 slidable on column 33. The support 12 isprovided with side plates 13 and 14 and a connecting plate 15. Sideplates 13 and 14 are provided with integral ears l6 and 17, as shown.End plates 2 and 3 have grooves 18 and 19 running their lengths forreceiving bearing rollers 20 and 21 which are joumaled inside plates 13and I4 and ride in grooves 18 and 19, respectively. There will be fourrollers and only two are shown, and may be mounted on ball bearings, notshown, to permit easy travel of support 12 along column 33.

The seat proper consists of a plate 22 pivotally mounted by a shaft 23to cars 16 and 17. A torsion spring 24 mounted on shaft 23 normallybiases plate 22 towards an upwardly folded position. Plate 22 may bepadded above and below with a suitable material as at 25 and 26,respectively, the padding at 26 being used as a back rest when the seatis folded up and the observer standing on the foot platform and notusing the seat.

Means are provided to adjust and hold the seat assembly at selectedpositions along the column 1, and consists of a hand lever 27 pivoted asat 72 within the support 12. Lever 27 is L- shaped, its long leg beingthe handle and its short leg having a dog 28 which is received in anotch 9. Lever 27 is further biased by a coil spring 29 to urge dog 28into one of the notches 9. A stop 30 extending from plate 15 preventsplate 22 from rotating downward from a normal seating position. A pairof extensions 31 and 32 rising from plate 22 and pivotally mounted onshaft 23 are stopped by stop 30 when the seat has rotated to its seatingposition.

FOOT PLATFORM ASSEMBLY Reference character 34 indicates the footplatform assembly generally, and consists ofa support 35 which issimilar to support 12 in construction, consisting of sideplates 36 and37, four bearing rollers, not shown, and ears 38 and 39. A footplate 40is provided for an observer to stand on. Runners 41 and 42 integral withits bottom side provide a means for pivotally mounting the footplate 40to the shaft 43 which passes through runners 41, 42 and ears 38, 39 andis rotatable with respect to them. Footplate 40 is further provided withan upstanding foot guard 44 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 6.

Means for locking the foot platform 34 in selected positions alongcolumn 33 are provided and consists of a housing 45, see FIG. 5. Housing45 is mounted on the front end plate 3 of column 33 and is bored as at46. A plunger 47 is received in bore 46 in housing 45 and is springbiased inwardly by action of a coil spring 48. Plunger 47 is providedwith a reduced portion 49 to receive one end of a lever 50 which ispivoted as at 51 to housing 45. A platform release pedal 52 is carriedby one end of shaft 43 and extends forwardly to end in an upstanding pad53 for foot engagement. A second lever 54 carried by shaft 43 abutslever 50 as shown in FIG. 5. The inner end of plunger 47 is adapted toextend into one of the notches 10 in end plate 3 when release pedal 52is not depressed and to move out of notch 10 when pedal 52 is depressedby rotation of levers 50 and 54 which rotate with shaft 43 and footpedal 53.

COUNTERBALANCING AND SHOCK ABSORBING MEANS Means are provided tocounterbalance the seat assembly and the foot platform assembly andconsists of constant force springs, one for the seat assembly and twofor the foot platform. The seat spring assembly consists of a recoilingspring 55 which is wound on a spool 56 mounted in a bracket 57 fixed toend plate 2 of column 1. The free end of spring 55 is attached tosupport 12 as at 58 by suitable means.

The foot platform spring assembly consists of a bracket 59 fixed to theforward face of end plate 3 of column 1, which bracket also provides astop for limiting the downward movement of support 12 of the seat andthe upward movement of foot platform support 35. If desired snubbers 6 0and 61 of a resilient material may be carried by the upper and loweredges of bracket 59, respectively. Bracket 59 supports a pair of spools62 and 63 upon which recoiling springs 64 and 65 are wound. The freeends of clock springs 64 and 65 are attached to support 35 of the seatassembly, one attachment being shown at 66. A stop for limiting thedownward travel of foot platform may be provided at the bottom portionof column 33. This may also have a snubber 71.

Means are supplied to absorb the shock of the foot platform when rotatedfrom a folded position to the position for use and is seen in FIG. 8. Asecond bore 67 in housing 45 receives a plunger 68 which is biasedoutwardly by a coil spring 69. Plunger 68 is of a length so as to entera second bore 73 in housing 45 so that when a plate 74 carried byrunners 41 and 42 engages its outer end it is pushed inwardly in bore67. Spring action of plunger 68 then absorbs the shock of a suddenunfolding of platform 34 and plunger 68 moves into bore 73.

OPERATION The operation of the device is simple and quick. Normally seat11 and foot platform 34 are folded, as seen by broken lines in FIG. 1.Before using either, they are adjusted to a height desired forcompensating for the height of the observer or for what position he isto assume. Either one may be used individually or both together. Theseat is adjusted by disengaging lever 27 from a notch 9 in column 33 andpushing up or downward the support 12. Then by pulling seat 11 downwardthe user may sit on it. The foot platform is adjusted by pressing thelever 52 by pad 53 to disengage the plunger 47 from a notch in column 33and moving support 35 upward or downward to the position desired. Thenthe plate 40 is unfolded for standing on it. When the observer wishes todescend quickly, and is using both the seat and foot plate, he operateslever 27 and lever 52 and descends downward quickly. Too sudden descentis prevented by the recoil springs 55, 64 and 65 which act ascounterbalances.

An observer may stand on foot platform 34 and sit on top of the foldedseat if he desires extra height. This is made more comfortable byaddition of a plate 75 attached to support 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Plate75 is upholstered by a pad 76. Both plates 75 and plate 22 areforeshortened so as to allow some of the pads 25, 26 and 69 to extendbeyond and furnish a cushion area.

It is apparent that a novel seat and foot platform combination has beendevised for support of an observer ofa land tank or like vehicle.

What is claimed is:

l. A seat and foot platform assembly for use by an observer in theturret of a military tank or like vehicle comprising in combination,

a. A single column having positioning notches along portions of itslength, said column being secured at its ends to the floor and topofsaid turret,

b. A seat assembly slidable on said column,

c. A foot platform assembly slidable on said column and disposed belowsaid seat assembly,

d. Means carried by said assemblies and cooperating with said notches insaid column for adjustably positioning said assemblies on said column,

e. Means on said column for limiting the travel of said assemblies alongsaid column, and,

f. Means for counterbalancing said assemblies.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said column comprisesforward and rearward end plates arranged in spaced, parallelarrangement, a strip medially connected to the inner sides of said endplates, there being a groove cut longitudinally in the inner ends ofeach said end plate, a series of notches cut in one side of said stripand a series of notches cut in the forward end plate, said notches insaid strip extending a distance substantially the length of travel ofsaid seat assembly along said column and said notches in said forwardend strip extending a distance substantially the length of travel ofsaid foot platform along said column whereby said notches cooperate withsaid adjusting means carried by said seat and foot platform assembliesfor the positioning thereof along said column.

3. A device as set forth in claim I wherein said seat assembly comprisesa support slidable on said column, a series of bearing rollers ournaledin said support and riding in said column, a spring loaded, upholsteredplate pivotally mounted to the forward end of said support and movablebetween an open and a folded position, a hand lever having a dogintegral with its inner end and pivotally mounted in said support and acoil spring normally biasing said dog into a said positioning notch insaid column.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seat platform assemblycomprises a support slidable on said column, a foot plate, a shaftpivotally mounting said foot plate to the forward end of said support,said foot plate being movable between an open and a folded position, ahousing secured to the forward end of said support, a spring biasedplunger slidable in said housing normally engaging in a said notch insaid column, a first lever pivoted to said housing and connected to saidplunger, a second lever on said shaft and contacting said first leverand a release pedal on said shaft whereby when said pedal is depressedsaid shaft will rotate said levers to release said plunger from itsrespective notch in said column to permit said foot platform assembly tobe raised or lowered along said column.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for limiting thetravel of said assemblies along column comprises a first stop having aresilient snubber at its upper and lower edges and fixed to the forwardend of said column at a point midway of its length, and a second stopfixed to the forward end of said column near its lower portion, therebeing a resilient snubber carried by its upper edge, whereby the upwardand downward travel of said seat assembly and said foot platformassemblies are limited.

6. A device as set forth in claim I wherein said means forcounterbalancing said assemblies comprises a first bracket securedadjacent the top of said column and to its rearward side, a spoolrotatable in said bracket, a clock spring wound on said spool, its freeend being attached to said seat assembly, a second bracket secured tothe forward end and at a point midway of said column, said bracketextending beyond both sides thereof, a spool rotatably carried by eitherside of said bracket and a clock spring wound on each said last namesspools, their free ends being attached to said foot platform assembly.

7. In a seat assembly for use by an observer in the turret of a militarytank and being adjustable at selected heights on a notched columnsecured between the top and floor of said turret, said seat assemblycomprising a support slidable along said column, a pair of ears integralwith the forward end of said support, a shaft mounted in said ears, aplate pivotally mounted on said shaft, a torsion spring encircling saidshaft and normally biasing said plate to an upwardly folded positionwith respect to said column, a pad carried by the upper and lowersurfaces of said plate a spring biased member carried by said supportand cooperating with said notched column for releasably locking saidsupport at selected heights therealong, and means connected to saidsupport and said column for counterbalancing said seat assembly.

8. In a foot platform assembly for use by an observer in the turret of amilitary tank and being adjustable at selected heights on a notchedcolumn secured between the top and floor of said turret, said footplatform assembly comprising, a support slidable on said column, a shaftrotatably mounted on the forward end of said support, a spring loadedfoot plate pivoted on said shaft and movable between folded and openpositions, a spring biased plunger housed in said support and normallyengaging in a notch in said column, a foot pedal fixed to said shaft, afirst lever fixed to said shaft and a second lever pivoted on saidsupport and abutting said first lever whereby a depression of said pedalwill rotate said shaft, and said first and second levers to move saidplunger from said notch to release said support for the adjustment ofsaid assembly, and means connected to said column and said support forcounterbalancing said foot platform assembly.

1. A seat and foot platform assembly for use by an observer in theturret of a military tank or like vehicle comprising in combination, a.A single column having positioning notches along portions of its length,said column being secured at its ends to the floor and top of saidturret, b. A seat assembly slidable on said column, c. A foot platformassembly slidable on said column and disposed below said seat assembly,d. Means carried by said assemblies and cooperating with said notches insaid column for adjustably positioning said assemblies on said column,e. Means on said column for limiting the travel of said assemblies alongsaid column, and, f. Means for counterbalancing said assemblies.
 2. Adevice as set forth in claim 1 wherein said column comprises forward andreaRward end plates arranged in spaced, parallel arrangement, a stripmedially connected to the inner sides of said end plates, there being agroove cut longitudinally in the inner ends of each said end plate, aseries of notches cut in one side of said strip and a series of notchescut in the forward end plate, said notches in said strip extending adistance substantially the length of travel of said seat assembly alongsaid column and said notches in said forward end strip extending adistance substantially the length of travel of said foot platform alongsaid column whereby said notches cooperate with said adjusting meanscarried by said seat and foot platform assemblies for the positioningthereof along said column.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid seat assembly comprises a support slidable on said column, a seriesof bearing rollers journaled in said support and riding in said column,a spring loaded, upholstered plate pivotally mounted to the forward endof said support and movable between an open and a folded position, ahand lever having a dog integral with its inner end and pivotallymounted in said support and a coil spring normally biasing said dog intoa said positioning notch in said column.
 4. A device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said seat platform assembly comprises a support slidableon said column, a foot plate, a shaft pivotally mounting said foot plateto the forward end of said support, said foot plate being movablebetween an open and a folded position, a housing secured to the forwardend of said support, a spring biased plunger slidable in said housingnormally engaging in a said notch in said column, a first lever pivotedto said housing and connected to said plunger, a second lever on saidshaft and contacting said first lever and a release pedal on said shaftwhereby when said pedal is depressed said shaft will rotate said leversto release said plunger from its respective notch in said column topermit said foot platform assembly to be raised or lowered along saidcolumn.
 5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forlimiting the travel of said assemblies along column comprises a firststop having a resilient snubber at its upper and lower edges and fixedto the forward end of said column at a point midway of its length, and asecond stop fixed to the forward end of said column near its lowerportion, there being a resilient snubber carried by its upper edge,whereby the upward and downward travel of said seat assembly and saidfoot platform assemblies are limited.
 6. A device as set forth in claim1 wherein said means for counterbalancing said assemblies comprises afirst bracket secured adjacent the top of said column and to itsrearward side, a spool rotatable in said bracket, a clock spring woundon said spool, its free end being attached to said seat assembly, asecond bracket secured to the forward end and at a point midway of saidcolumn, said bracket extending beyond both sides thereof, a spoolrotatably carried by either side of said bracket and a clock springwound on each said last names spools, their free ends being attached tosaid foot platform assembly.
 7. In a seat assembly for use by anobserver in the turret of a military tank and being adjustable atselected heights on a notched column secured between the top and floorof said turret, said seat assembly comprising a support slidable alongsaid column, a pair of ears integral with the forward end of saidsupport, a shaft mounted in said ears, a plate pivotally mounted on saidshaft, a torsion spring encircling said shaft and normally biasing saidplate to an upwardly folded position with respect to said column, a padcarried by the upper and lower surfaces of said plate a spring biasedmember carried by said support and cooperating with said notched columnfor releasably locking said support at selected heights therealong, andmeans connected to said support and said column for counterbalancingsaid seat assembly.
 8. In A foot platform assembly for use by anobserver in the turret of a military tank and being adjustable atselected heights on a notched column secured between the top and floorof said turret, said foot platform assembly comprising, a supportslidable on said column, a shaft rotatably mounted on the forward end ofsaid support, a spring loaded foot plate pivoted on said shaft andmovable between folded and open positions, a spring biased plungerhoused in said support and normally engaging in a notch in said column,a foot pedal fixed to said shaft, a first lever fixed to said shaft anda second lever pivoted on said support and abutting said first leverwhereby a depression of said pedal will rotate said shaft, and saidfirst and second levers to move said plunger from said notch to releasesaid support for the adjustment of said assembly, and means connected tosaid column and said support for counterbalancing said foot platformassembly.